Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has completed preparations for Hajj 2026 operations. Pre-Hajj flights are scheduled to begin on April 18. Thousands of pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under government and private schemes.
PIA will operate around 200 flights during the pre-Hajj phase, transporting more than 60,000 pilgrims. Flights will cover major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Quetta, Faisalabad, and Multan. Pilgrims will initially be flown to Madinah and later to Jeddah.
This year, 49,000 pilgrims will travel under the government Hajj scheme. Another 11,000 will perform Hajj through private operators. In total, 119,000 pilgrims are expected under the government scheme, including 67,230 men and 51,846 women.
Flight Schedule and Post-Hajj Operations
PIA will use Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft for Hajj 2026 flights. Post-Hajj operations are planned from May 30 to June 30 to bring pilgrims back safely to Pakistan.
The complete flight schedule includes 468 flights from eight cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Sukkur. On the first day, four flights will depart for Madinah. For the first 15 days, all pilgrims will travel exclusively to Madinah before flights to Jeddah begin on May 4.
A total of 186 flights are allocated to Madinah, while 282 flights will operate to Jeddah. City-wise breakdown includes 139 flights from Islamabad, 120 from Karachi, 104 from Lahore, 18 from Quetta, 34 from Multan, 26 from Sialkot, 23 from Faisalabad, and 5 from Sukkur.
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Alongside PIA, other airlines such as Airblue, Air Sial, and Saudia Airlines will also operate Hajj flights. This collaboration ensures smooth travel and timely transportation for all pilgrims during Hajj 2026.
